From Times Square to Sydney Harbour, yoga unifies all
NEW DELHI: From several thousand enthusiasts participating in mass yoga sessions all through the day at New York’s iconic Times Square, to mass yoga in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, at the European Union parliament, and even atop Sydney Harbour Bridge — the ancient Indian tradition got a fillip across the world on Tuesday in the second edition of International Yoga Day.
MUMBAI Naval Cadets participate in a mass yoga demonstration on INS Viraat on International Yoga Day in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Lakhs of people across India stretched themselves in various postures to mark the day as Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the main event in Chandigarh. He performed asanas and maintained that yoga was not a religious activity. At the United Nations, UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon asked citizens across nations to embrace healthier choices to mark the International Day of Yoga.
Over 15,000 people, including 70 diplomats, took part in the yoga day celebrations at seven venues in the national capital. From performing ‘aasanas’ in sub-zero temperature at Siachen to desert in Rajasthan and warships, the armed forces also marked the day across the country. Over four lakh personnel from the army alone participated in various events.
Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar inaugurated the International Yoga Day celebrations at the European Parliament in Brussels, saying Yoga is aspiring for the highest goal of the world as one family. “I am so glad that today here in the European Parliament, the heart of Europe, where 48 countries sit and do their deliberations and lead their countries, they are taking up this beautiful mission of wellness and bringing happiness to people,” Ravi Shankar said while interacting with parliament members at the prestigious Yehudi Menuhin Hall.Enthusiasm marked Yoga Day delebrations across the country with people turning out in large number at various events organised by the state governments. In Srinagar, NCC girl cadets performed ‘asanas’ while the event in Jammu was marred by rain.